As a wife, I know God has called me to put my husband first above everyone else expect God himself... This however, can be hard to do... I have friends and family who I like to spend time with as well... But, I realized recently that sometimes, I am caring more about the feelings and actions of my friends and family more than those my husband. I am not saying, I should never spend time with family or friends or have a life outside of the house... No, that is not true.. But when my husband needs me.. I should be there for him.
- God created me to be my husbands helpmeet; to love and support him and to bring him joy.
Genesis 2:18, 23-25
"Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
"The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man."
“This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man."
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed."
- God also commands me to submit and respect my husband.
Ephesians 5:22-33
Wives and Husbands
"22Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
23For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.
24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
25Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
26that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27so
that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot
or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without
blemish.a
28In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,
30because we are members of his body.
31“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
32This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
33However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband"" According to this verse, I am not only supposed to submit to my husband, but also respect him...
What does respect mean?
Respect. Verb:
1. to hold in esteem or honor.
2. to show regard or consideration for.
3. to refrain from intruding upon or interfering with.
5. to relate or have reference to.
What does submit mean?
Submit
verb (used with object)
1.to give over or yield to the power or authority of another (often used reflexively).
2.to subject to some kind of treatment or influence.
4.to state or urge with deference; suggest or propose (usually followed by a clause):
verb (used without object)
5.to yield oneself to the power or authority of another:
6.to allow oneself to be subjected to some kind of treatment:
7.to defer to another's judgment, opinion, decision, etc.:
Looking up both of these words in the dictionary, this means I am supposed, to honor, show consideration and yield to my husband.
- God has called me to be an excellent wife.
10 d An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. 14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. 15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. 16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. 17She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. 19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. 20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.f 22 She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. 27 She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” 30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates."
13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. 14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. 15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. 16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. 17She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. 19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. 20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.f 22 She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. 27 She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” 30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates."
The above passage shows me where I am GREATLY lacking as a wife... I fail so much in comparison to this passage... But this is what God has called me to be, and excellent wife, who does my husband good and not harm all the days of my life.
This doesn't apply to me, I am not married:
If you are a woman, not married yet... think of verse 12, God wants you to do good to your husband all the days of your life... That means now! Are you doing things that could hurt your future husband? Think about that... If you marry, the above passage is what God has called you to do... You can work on being an excellent wife now before you are married.
I leave you with this:
Are you doing what God has called you to do as a wife or single woman?
Do you fear the Lord?
Are you kind and gentle?
Do your words show wisdom and kindness?
Do you respect, honor and submit to your husband?
Do you do your husband (or future husband) good every day?
Are you according to the bible, living the life of an excellent wife?If you answered no to any of these questions, here is my challenge:
Join me on the journey of becoming an excellent wife.
1. Look in the bible yourself what God has commanded to wives and woman.
2. Write down the verses and really study them.
3.Pray about what you learn and ask God for his help!
4. Start small and Do it! (This is the hardest part!) Remember you can do all things through Christ! Don't try to do it on your own.
If you have any questions or would like ideas of how to be an excellent wife, feel free to comment.
Ang
GREAT POST! I wish more woman would see that there is great joy in submission... As a "strong" woman I fought it for so long. I do wish I had known the joy that comes from assuming the roll I was created for in those early years. I have spoken non-stop to my daughters about this though. I can see they "get it" and aren't fighting it! As for Proverbs 31 remember this is not someone we are expected to be all at once, but over a life time. The longer you are a wife the more you see yourself reflected in those verses! (Bit by agonizingly slow bit!)
ReplyDeleteYou are right, it is more of a journey, to become an excellent wife... We work toward it every day, however, we cant be it all at once like you said. :D
Delete